Bill, you are completely right. The rusty cold warriors in the Pentagon have been lobbying hard for loopholes in any test ban treaty negotiated to exclude "low-yield" tests which are difficult to verify and laboratory testing with computer simulations. Even as the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty negotiations have been going on, the US is still budgeting for the billion-dollar National Ignition Facility, a huge laser project at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory which will allow for the design of new classes of warheads. (Expanding US nuclear capabilities is sold to Congress as "stockpile stewardship"... who can vote against being a good steward of our nuclear stockpile?) For the US to condemn the French for wanting to conduct eight tests over the next year would be the pot calling the kettle black. The Greenpeace ship, Rainbow Warrior (II) was in Auckland this week for a commemoration of the tenth anniversary of the bombing of the original vessel by French secret agents. Like its namesake was ten years ago, the ship has been dispatched to Moruroa to protest the testing. The International Peace Bureau has called for a boycott of French goods and services. If anyone would like press releases or more information, just email me. Gina Neff Economists Allied for Arms Reduction [EMAIL PROTECTED] 212-768-2080
